ADT CO2 sensors reliable? Where to place?

[[email protected]]

I have heard mixed messages from several alarm companies about CO2
sensors. Some swear by them, others have stated a high level of falses
with mointered CO2 sensors. I am inclined to get mointored CO2 sensors
through ADT but I don't want falses... do they false and if not, where
should I place them? I have heard some say near the source of CO2 like
furnances, the kitchen, the gas dryer, the gas fireplace ... but then
again I have heard to just place one near or in the bedrooms. Thoughts
on placement and number I should have?

 

[[email protected]]

any real answers?

 

[Crash Gordon]

Doncha hate that? Seems it's always the customer that ate garlic for
breakfast, lunch and dinner that wants to look over my shoulder while I'm
programming his panel.


| On 13 Oct 2006 23:29:03 -0700, [email protected] wrote:
|
| >Thoughts
| >on placement and number I should have?
|
|
| Let the alarm company provide the solution, that's what they're paid
| for.
|
| I feel sorry for the installer coming to your place == you're gonna
| second guess him every step of the way and follow him around like a
| puppy dog, aren't ya?
|
|
| --
|
| -Graham
| (remove the double e's to email)

 

[Robert L Bass]

I have heard mixed messages from several alarm companies about CO2

sensors. Some swear by them, others have stated a high level of falses
with mointered CO2 sensors. I am inclined to get mointored CO2 sensors
through ADT but I don't want falses... do they false and if not, where
should I place them?

Years ago CO detectors were a major source of false alarms. Modern detectors are nowhere near as much of a problem.

Place a CO detector on a wall outside the sleeping area (but not *in* the bedroom) at a height of 5' from the floor. You may also
wish to install a unit near the possible source of CO, such as in the furnace room.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[[email protected]]

Placement of CO detectors really depend on what you are mainly concerned
with monitoring. If you are more worried about CO fumes from the fact that
you start your car in the attached garage to let it warm up, then I'd place
it near there but not directly in the garage. If your mostly worried about a
crack in the heat exchanger of your furnace then place it near the closest
vent to the furnace. If you have a propane fireplace and that is your
biggiest concern then place it near there but not directly above the unit.
The thing you have to remember is that a CO dectector is exactly that.
Carbon Monoxide is created from a fuel that is partially burnt. A fuel that
burns extremely efficient puts off very little CO. Most furnaces now-a-days
burn at like 92 and 93 percent efficient, but it is the mishap of something
going wrong and throwing off the efficiency ie: a couple of your spark plugs
on your car starting to foul-out which makes it run poorly. It runs poorly
brcause it is not burning the fuel correctly. Hope this helps!

thanks for the replies guys. i think i will place one outside my
bedroom, one and only one. my primary fear is a bad heat exchanger that
incapacitates you while you sleep.

 

[Robert L Bass]

thanks for the replies guys. i think i will place one

outside my bedroom, one and only one. my primary
fear is a bad heat exchanger that incapacitates you
while you sleep.

I had that happen to my furnace in a home I bought in CT some years ago. The heat exchanger was cracked, allowing CO gas into the
house. It gave us all headaches but fortunately there was no permanent damage.

A more common danger of CO infusion is a blocked or faulty damper. This can happen to a gas furnace or a water heater.

Another problem sometimes occurs when the home is nearly air tight and there's a fire in the fireplace. The fireplace is like a
bonfire with lots of convective airflow up the chimney. The furnace fire, by comparison, is a very small flame with much less
convective flow. The fireplace sends so much heat up the chimney that it causes a negative pressure in the house. Outside pressure
tries to replace the lost air, pushing straight down the furnace flue. Note that in modern homes there are actually two separate
flues -- one for the furnace and another for the fireplace. The incoming air draws the furnace gas, together with lots of CO, back
into the house.

There are other possible sources of CO, including a car engine left running (a friend of my father died that way), improperly vented
gas heaters, stoves, etc.

If you're only going to install one CO detector, the location outside the bedroom is the best choice. Best of luck.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Robert L Bass]

BTW.. Did you just watch the Discovery Atlas show about Brazil? Pretty

neat.

Yep. The segment on Bahia depicted an area known as Nordeste da Amaralina. I've driven through there once. It's a tough
neighborhood. They presented Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, which is the most famous carnaval. Unfortunately, they didn't show
anything about Salvador's Carnaval. The two are radically different.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[[email protected]]

any particular reason you are suggest OUTSIDE the bedroom as opposed to
in it? the reason i ask is my master bedroom is on the 2nd floor and
the hallway outside is exposed on each end to a 2 story entrance foyer
and 2 story family room... ie. a large mix of a huge volume of air. it
also doesn't have any vent in the hallway. i am concerned the heating
vents in the bedroom itself could actually pump in CO2 faster and fill
the room (with closed door) faster than the hallway would hit the same
level since it is exposed to such a huge volume of air on each side.
any harm in putting it in the bedroom?

thanks again...

 

[Crash Gordon]

code here is outside and inside bedrooms, plus other stuff too.


| any particular reason you are suggest OUTSIDE the bedroom as opposed to
| in it? the reason i ask is my master bedroom is on the 2nd floor and
| the hallway outside is exposed on each end to a 2 story entrance foyer
| and 2 story family room... ie. a large mix of a huge volume of air. it
| also doesn't have any vent in the hallway. i am concerned the heating
| vents in the bedroom itself could actually pump in CO2 faster and fill
| the room (with closed door) faster than the hallway would hit the same
| level since it is exposed to such a huge volume of air on each side.
| any harm in putting it in the bedroom?
|
| thanks again...
|

 

[Robert L Bass]

any particular reason you are suggest OUTSIDE

the bedroom as opposed to in it?

Aerosol propellants (hair spray) can set them off.

the reason i ask is my master bedroom is on the 2nd floor and
the hallway outside is exposed on each end to a 2 story entrance foyer
and 2 story family room... ie. a large mix of a huge volume of air. it
also doesn't have any vent in the hallway. i am concerned the heating
vents in the bedroom itself could actually pump in CO2 faster and fill
the room (with closed door) faster than the hallway would hit the same
level since it is exposed to such a huge volume of air on each side.
any harm in putting it in the bedroom?

CO mixes readily with *all* of the air coming through the HVAC system. You could back it up with a unit inside the bedroom as long
as it's not close to your wife's dresser. :^)

thanks again...

No problem.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>